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James Franco's accusers detail allegations

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Thursday, January 11, 2018
3:30:22 EST PM

In this Jan. 7, 2018 file photo, James Franco arrives at the 75th annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif. Facing accusations by an actress and a filmmaker over alleged sexual misconduct, James Franco said on CBS’ “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” on Tuesday the things he’s heard aren’t accurate but he supports people coming out “because they didn’t have a voice for so long.” (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

NEW YORK — Several women have made further claims of inappropriate sexual behaviour against James Franco in a Los Angeles Times article .

In the report published Thursday, two former student actresses described negative on-set experiences with the actor-filmmaker while being directed by him. Sarah Tither-Kaplan said in a nude orgy scene three years ago, he removed plastic guards covering the actresses’ groins while simulating sex.

Former students spoke of an unprofessional culture at Franco’s now-closed acting school Studio 4, where he taught a sex scenes class. Two women said Franco became angry shooting a strip club scene when no actresses, who were masked, would go topless. One topless scene filmed during class with Tither-Kaplan was uploaded to Vimeo, she said.

Violet Paley said that during a consensual relationship, Franco once pressured her to perform oral sex in a car and that the “power dynamic was really off.”

On Wednesday night’s “Late Night With Seth Meyers,” Franco said the tweets by Paley and Tither-Kaplan were “not accurate” but he supported the women’s right to express their perspectives. A lawyer and publicist for Franco didn’t respond to queries Thursday. Franco’s attorney, Michael Plonsker, disputed the allegations to the Times.

“There are stories that need to get out, people that need to be heard. I have my own side of this story but I believe that these people have been underrepresented getting their stories out enough that I will hold back things that I could say just because I believe in that so much,” said Franco to Meyers. “If I have to take a knock because I’m not gonna, you know, try and, you know, actively refute things then I will because I believe in it that much.”

Paley and Tither-Kaplan earlier tweeted about their past encounters with Franco after the actor wore a pin supporting the “Time’s Up” initiative for gender equality at Sunday’s Golden Globes. He won the award for best actor in a comedy or musical for “The Disaster Artist.”

Actress Ally Sheedy also said in a since-deleted tweet that Franco was an example of why she left the movie business. Franco on Tuesday told Stephen Colbert on “The Late Show” that he had “no idea” why Sheedy said that. He directed her in a 2014 off-Broadway play.

In 2014, Instagram messages showed Franco apparently trying to hit on a 17-year-old Scottish fan. Afterward Franco said he was “embarrassed” and said social media is “tricky.” ”I used bad judgment and I learned my lesson,“ the actor said then.